The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-04-16

Hardin. what happier destiny could poor
devil Of Mecenas bachelor find awaiting
him than the wifely embraces Of woman
like Carolyn Lomaxl"
"Thero's many slip quoted Cosby.
Fortune has trick OF smiling on Darby, /
know; but she's fickle bedame ut best,
and may play him false when he least OK
poets it,
sid take Phils chances for the prize he's
to draw from her tonight, at all events"
said Hardin. "The floral bell is swinging
already In the hall of the Lomax house
ready for his wedding chimes. Hal speak
ing OF the decorations, that reminds me.
Sartini the florist, told me he had just re-
ceived an importation of Italian plants, and
promised Darby I'd call by and tell him to
send up one Of those superb moon-Bowers
for Miss Lomax. Sartini ie certain he has
one that will put out its bltsso is just about
the time of the marriage. Darby thinks
that would be pleasant omen for his
bride"
He returned his paper to the file and at
once took his leave to attend to the commits
sion.
A few hours later a brilliant company
was assembled in the parlor of Hon. Paul
Lomax. They had gathered there for the
celebration of the marriage of his daughter
and heress to Philander Darby. What fate
was there now which might ballt the most
sacred plans of the bridegroom's life. Still
fortunes favorite he had already received
at the altar, consecrated by the high priest
Love, her most gracious boon in the con-
jugal vows of the woman he adorcd, and,
among her bridal guests, his young wife
was moving, the stateliest and loveliest OF
them all.
In pause in the dance her eyes frankly
met his devouring gaze. He was ut her side
in moment.
"Comc withme awhile, can you not, Caro-
lyn'" he eagerly whispered. "It is mad
mockery to me, this phantasmagorias of
lights, flowers, and nodding and bobbing
puppets, forever interposng between you
and me. Surely we may be entitled to a
quarter of an hours emancipation from the
shackles OF less convenances."
She smiled and humoring his fancy, put
her hand within his arm.
"Where will you take me? There are
lights and people everywhere"
He looked down upon her smiling.
''The moons rays only have right to be
where our moon-fower is opening its bios
son.3. Dunbrek had had less an artists eye
had he failed to see the peculiar fitness of
that alcove for the sly charms Of that lunar
plant"
She moved at his side, roseate and palpi-
tant. So this explained the diplomacy he
had used in inducing the old gardener to
move some Of his choicest plants from the
retired alcove to give place to the heavily
foliaged plant sent up from Sartinfs. He
had meant that only the moonbeams should
be there before herself and him to see the
faint pink blossoms open their hearts of
perfume. Much of the conservatory was in
u blaze of light as the balance of the house
was; but, by detour, Darby succeeding in
introducing himself and bride into the al
cove unseen. In this transverse section,
where the fern mounds ended, they found,
as anticipated, their seclusion invaded only
by the half-light from the outer conserva-
tory and the splendor Of the moonlight that
was flooding the new plant. They bent to.
gether over their floral treasure. The bride
uttered a little cry of delight.
'See, Phil, it has five or six blossoms on
it already and there are other buds opening.
Did you eyer see any thing lovelier!"
eyes," he answered with gravity, "yes,
my Carolyn, have seen something love.
lier."
She bowed her yelled head lower over the
pretty flowers. A strong arm was passed
about the slender figure.
30, my belovedw was whispered in her
ear, '.these blossoms are but insensate
things at best; don't waste your caresses
upon them. l am consumed Of envy OF my
own gift to you.''
She was yielding to his touch, expanding
into new beauty as the plant was doing in
the embrace of the moons rays.
Out from the shadows of a fern mound
to one side of the absorbed lovers, face,
livid, sharpened, contorted, glanced for q
second. The BRIDES veil caught in the
calyx Of one OF the half-opened buds. The
moon plant shivered through all its foliage
One OF its stems snapped sharply, and
Carolyn drew back with one OF the buds
entangled in the mesh Of her veil.
s'Ah, the pity of t." she cried taking the
despoiled bud into her jeweled fingers and
gazing upon IL regrctfully.
So intent was she looking at the broken
flower, and so intent was he gazing at hel
in her wistful beauty that neither Of them
saw what the pair Of staring eyes, shad
owed by the fern fronds, caught glimpse
of--the hideous, many-legged beast that
had darted forth from the foliage Of the
shaken plant. Alert upon one of the broad
leaves it stood until the quivering foliage
settled into stiffness then it crouched, wait
ing.
"Ah! Phil" murmured the bride, hel
eyes dewy and her voice tremulous, ''what
if we should find our welded happiness tc
be no more than this moon flower; lovely Il
look upon, but to be broken by the first rough
usage. See! i can not make even thi.
small bud attach itself again where it may
gather life and beauty anew"
She bent forward, making pretty pre-
tense Of reuniting the plant and its severed
blossom; but instantly she started back
making vain effort to suppress tho excla
nation of pain or terror that sharply broke
the stiffness of the conservatory. Her Cry
was shrilly echoed on the instant from the
oelmp OF ferns close by, which, violently
agitated, gave sudden egress to the hgur,
! Of man.
It was Bardinelli, late master in music Il
Carolyn. 1t was to the side of his former
pupil he now darted. Darby was stll
clasping her in his arms and was question
ing her in an agony Of apprehension, while
she, nervously agitatcd, was using hel
womanly arts to reassure him.
ut = nothing, Phil-a mere scratch-i
sting. A great spider, think. The crea
ture nipped me and leaped away before
could we'll see what it was. All! Sig. Bardi
nelli, is it youl o, Phil-what-"
Palo and terrified she lay in the arms o
her husband, WIN, livid as death, only hell
her closely, making no effort to restrain tn,
Italian, who had without ceremony seizet